FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Claire Parker
202.677.7699
press@cfsaf.org
July 14, 2016
CFSAF Celebrates Final Passage of National Uniform Food Labeling Legislation
(Washington, D.C.) – The Coalition for Safe Affordable Food (CFSAF) today applauded members of the U.S. House of Representatives who voted 306 to 117 to pass legislation that preempts Vermont’s GMO labeling mandate, protects American family farmers and small businesses and provides consumers the most ingredient information than ever before.
Today’s action, which follows a similar strong bipartisan vote last week in the United States Senate, clears the way for President Obama to sign this legislation into law.
“After more than two years working with Senators and House Members from both parties, today’s vote is a resounding victory not only for consumers and common sense, but also for the tremendous coalition of agricultural and food organizations that came together in unprecedented fashion to get this solution passed,” said Pamela G. Bailey, President and CEO of the Grocery Manufacturers Association and CFSAF co-chair. “Our entire coalition of agriculture and food groups sincerely thanks House Agricultural Committee Chairman Mike Conaway, Congressman Collin Peterson, Congressmen Mike Pompeo and G.K. Butterfield, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts and Senator Debbie Stabenow for their critical leadership on this issue, and all members of Congress who voted to create a more transparent disclosure system while preventing the costly effects of a patchwork of state labeling laws.”
Since early 2014, more than 1,100 food and agricultural groups have joined together in support of Congressional action to preempt Vermont’s law and pass a national, uniform food labeling standard that will provide consumers, farmers and businesses a consistent standard that is the same across the entire country. Chairman Roberts has stated that he has never before seen the food and agricultural communities as united as they have been on this issue.
“American farmers rely on agriculture biotechnology to help feed a rapidly growing world population and this bill ensures that genetically engineered crops will not be stigmatized due to mandatory on-pack labels,” said Charles F. Conner, CFSAF co-chair and President and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives. “This is a vote for consumers and farmers and a vote against the campaign of fear and misinformation by anti-GMO activists against this safe, proven technology. We look forward to President Obama signing this legislation, which will immediately preempt the Vermont labeling law that is already impacting shoppers and small businesses in that state.”